The aim of this study was to identify ways in which policy makers could address health disadvantages in minority communities in Minneapolis, MN through increased use of parks. Minneapolis is culturally diverse and has high percentages of minority groups, including foreign-born residents. Parks are readily available to Minneapolis residents, with 94% living within a 10-minute walk of a park. Additionally, the city's public park system is ranked as the best in the U.S.
Researchers from the University of Minnesota in collaboration with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board collected data about park use and perceptions about the health benefits of park usage from residents of three low-income neighborhoods. A total of 568 adults from different households completed in-home survey interviews. Over 50% of the respondents had children living in the home. For park-use frequency, participants were asked to report past year park use in warm weather, past year park use in cold weather, and the number of park trips they had made in the three days before their interview day. For their perceptions of health benefits of parks, participants were asked to rate the extent to which they agreed or disagreed with the following four park-related benefits: exercise opportunities, relaxation opportunities, spaces for family gatherings, and spaces for social gathering. For their perceptions of barriers to park use, participants were asked to rate the extent to which 11 different barriers limited their use of parks: language barriers, cultural restrictions, lack of companionship, safety concerns, lack of information, inconvenient program schedules, program pricing concerns, lack of maintenance, facilities not meeting needs, programs not meeting needs, and not feeling welcomed.
A higher percentage of White residents reported park use of two times per week or more in both warm and cold weather, compared to other groups. Foreign-born residents, blacks, and Hispanics perceive greater and unique barriers to park use in terms of not feeling welcome, cultural and language restrictions, program schedule and pricing concerns. This research provides evidence that minority groups in Minneapolis underutilize parks, are less likely to perceive parks as places providing health benefits, and face greater barriers to park use than other groups. The extent to which different minority groups perceive specific health benefits of parks and specific barriers to park use differ substantially.
These findings highlight the need for policy makers and urban planners to focus their health-promotion efforts on increasing awareness of park-related health benefits and removing specific park use barriers among minority and immigrant communities. Such efforts may be helpful in addressing some of the health disparities in our society.
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